Schuylkill proposes allocating block grants

$400,000 up for grabs, but projects must meet income requirements.

Schuylkill County expects to get about $400,000 in Community Development Block Grants this year to be doled out to communities with fewer than 4,000 people.

Trouble is, 19 communities asked for millions in grants, which must be used to benefit neighborhoods and communities that have mostly people who have low and moderate incomes.

Such projects would not be eligible if a certain percentage of benefiting residents don't fit the low- to moderate-income level.

So the county decided to focus on projects that would have an immediate impact, Commissioner Chairman Frank Staudenmeier said Wednesday at a hearing on the program.

The county is setting aside $17,500 to demolish dilapidated buildings in small communities.

It plans to give Tremont $58,000 to put heat pumps in an old school it plans to convert to a community center, $23,000 to Foster Township so it can replace a roof on Mount Pleasant Hose Company and $67,000 for Cass Township to build a handicapped-accessible bathroom in the municipal building, which houses a Head Start program.

The county also plans to give Gordon $33,000 to build a handicapped-accessible bathroom in the municipal building, $25,000 so Schuylkill Township can improve its fire company and $60,500 to Ashland to replace water and sewer lines.

The county is keeping $71,000 to manage the program.

The county also had money left over from grants it received in 2002 to distribute this year. It is giving $50,000 to Kline Township for sewer connections, $70,000 to Girardville for storm water management and $30,000 to Ashland for water and sewer projects.